Mechanical fishing-bait.



NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, JR., AND WILLIAM LOCHER, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

MECHANICAL FISHING-BAIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671,613, dated April 9,1901.

Application filed November 26, 1900. Serial No. 37,766. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM SHAKES- PEARE, Jr., and WILLIAM LOCHER,citizens of the United States, and residents of Kalamazoo, in the countyof Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, (having our post-office address Careof Kalamazoo Shutter Co. Kalamazoo,

Michigan,) have invented a new and 'useful Improvement in MechanicalFishing-Bait, of

o which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 illustrates a longitudinalvertical section of the invention, certain of the parts I 5-being shownin elevation. Fig. 2 illustrates a modified Construction of the bodypart of the bait. Fig. 3 illustrates an elevation of the nvention whenprovided With a bucktail.

Our present invention relates to certain im- 2o provements in the methodof construction of mechanical baits and the special arrangement of theparts, as follows: In every case heretofore, so far as we are aware,where the bodies of mechanical baits have been made in two parts' thesmaller part precedes the larger and the spinners are immediately inrear of the smaller part. The side hooks (in contradistinction to thetail-hooks) succeed the spinners, being attached to the larger portionor section of the body. Under this arrangement of the parts it sometimeshappens that the fish will strike for the bait/but not Very savagely,more as a nibble, and if so his nose or lips being struck by thespinners he instantly sheers off before the hooks which are farther downthe body catch him. This is particularly apt to be the case, since fish,in common with all other animals, in striking for their prey usuallysnap at the head or neck.

As part of our improvement, therefore, we make the front part of thebait the larger and upon it attach the side hooks, then follow thespinners,then the smaller section of the body, and then the tail-hooks.

body is shown at A. B is the smaller or rear part. C C' are thespinners, which are mounted upon hubs D D', respectively. E representsthe tail-hooks, and F F the side or body hooks. The parts of the bodyare peculiarly made. They are formed of metal joined wa- In Fig. 1 theforward or larger part of the ter-tight, as at Gr, and a tube extendsthrough them longitudinally, through which in turn passes the rod I,provided with the usual swivel J. At the rear end the rod has an eye Kformed in it, to which the tail-hooks are attached. It will be notedthat the rod is considerably longer than the various parts of the body,spinners, &c., thus leaving a space L between the forward end of thebody part and the swivel. This is so there may be longitudinal movementof all of the parts which are mounted upon the rod for the purpose ofclearing them of grass, Weeds, &c., that may become entangled aboutthem. We prefer that the spinners C C' should be so constructed thatthey will revolve in opposite directions. The body parts may be splitlongitudinally and united by a water-tight or seainless joint in thatway instead of oircumferentially, as shown at G Gr. The body-books aresecurely attached to the forward part by a wire M, which is set in agroove N, formed about the body and provided at the appropriate placeswith loops O, with which the body-hooks engage, as shown. This ring ispreferably solde red within the groove, so that it afiords a firm holdfor the hooks.

In Fig. 2 we show the two sections of the body part made of vulcanizedrubber, cellulod, or equivalent material. This construction is sometimesdesirable.

In Fig. 3 we show a construction in which a bucktail, which hides thetail -hook, is shown instead of the rear section of the body part. Inthis case the rod or wire I is shortened somewhat, terminating just in'rear of the spinners, but the same provision for longitudinal sliding ofthe parts to faciltate cleaning from snarled grasses, 850., is present.It will be noted particularly that the body-hooks precede every otherpart of the device, excepting the very nose or front end of the bodypart, and that if a fish even nibbles at this bait he is sure to becaught, because the spinners and all other parts are in rear of thebody-hooks. It will also be noted that the shells, whether of metal,celluloid, rubber, or equivalent material, are watertight, beingseamless, and that the rod upon which these parts are arra'nged passesthrough a tube located lengthwise of .the body-sec- IOO tions, so thatno watercan enter, which would make them sluggish in action.

It is not essential that there should be two sets of spinners, althoughwe prefer this, so that they may revolve in different directions,

thus avoiding twisting of the line; nor is i-t v essential that thereshould be longitudinal movement of the several parts monnted upon therod or wire; but we prefer this, since it is a great convenience inclearing the `baitof obstructions.

It will be obvious to those who are familiar with this art that variousmodificatious may be made and yet the essentials of the invention bepresent. We therefore do not limit ourselves to the special detailsshown.

Having described ou r in vention we 'claiml. In a bait the combinationof a body part made in two sections, spinners between the sections, a-od on which the body-sections and spinners are mounted, and hooksattached to the forward body-section, for the purposes set forth.

2. In a bait the combination of a body part made in two sections, theforward body-section being the larger, spinners between thesections, arod on which the body-sections &71,613

1 for the purposes set for-th,

5. In a bait the combination of a hollow, water-tight body part andhooks attached thereto by a wire which encircles and is secured to thebody part, for the purposes set fer-th.

Signed at Kalamazoo, in the ceunty of Ka1amazoo and State of Michigan,this 21st day of November, A. D. 1900.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, J WILLIAM LOCHER.

. Witnesses: i

HARRY C. HOWARD, L. LULU MORGAN,

